Reads Listens Views 12/14/2012

Arian Foster was a victim of sabotage by his Alma Mater’s athletic program. Was Marquess Wilson? Doesn’t look like it, but read more about the dynamics of whistle-blowing in Saturday’s Futures. Photo by Will Rackley.

Listens

Thank You

Fantasy football is slowing down and draftnik season is heating up. I’ll be here and at Football Outsider’s providing analysis of the 2013 prospects as I compile my research for the 2013 Rookie Scouting Portfolio, which will be available for download April 1. If you’ve never seen the RSP publication, 2006-2012 versions are available for download here. If you are a faithful reader of the publication and this blog, thank you for your support. I have already conducted play-by-play analysis of over 100 skill position prospects for the 2013 publication. As I did last year, I will be donating 10 percent of every sale to Darkness to Light to help them combat sexual abuse through community training and awareness projects.

Football Reads

Goodbye, Columbus – I wrote about former Washington State WR Marquess Wilson for this weekend’s Futures. I link to this Sports Illustrated piece by Austin Murphy about former Vikings and Buckeyes RB Robert Smith and his conflict with the Ohio State athletic program that ultimately caused him to quit the team but later rejoin. It’s one of several stories that indicate why athletic programs aren’t always trustworthy.

Bo Jackson is still a draw – A review of the 30 for 30 film on the Paul Bunyon of the 20th Century. The best human athlete I ever saw, no contest.

Non-Football Reads

Tribune Watchdog: Playing with FireThe average American baby is born with 10 fingers, 10 toes and the highest recorded levels of flame retardants among infants in the world. The toxic chemicals are present in nearly every home, packed into couches, chairs and many other products. Two powerful industries — Big Tobacco and chemical manufacturers — waged deceptive campaigns that led to the proliferation of these chemicals, which don’t even work as promised.

The Case for More Guns (And More Gun Control) Jeffery Goldberg asks, “How do we reduce gun crime and Aurora-style mass shootings when Americans already own nearly 300 million firearms? Maybe by allowing more people to carry them.”

Views

This is surreal footage of driving in Russia. It’s perhaps the craziest collection of incidents I have ever seen.